Question 1

The two primary motivations behind European voyages of exploration were ________ and ________.

Accepted Answer

The two primary motivations behind European voyages of exploration were religion and profit. Europeans were driven by the desire to spread Christianity and by the pursuit of wealth through trade, gold, and other resources.

Question 2

During the later medieval period, trade in luxury goods from Asia and the Ottomans was dominated by ________ merchants.

Accepted Answer

Venetian merchants were dominant in the trade of luxury goods from Asia and the Ottomans during the later medieval period due to their strategic location and strong maritime capabilities.

Question 3

With the ________ in 1493, Pope Alexander VI drew a line down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and ruled that Portugal had exclusive rights to the lands east of the line and Castile had exclusive rights to the lands west of the line.

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was an agreement between Portugal and Spain (Castile) facilitated by Pope Alexander VI. This treaty moved the line established by the Pope westward, allowing Portugal to claim lands in the eastern part of what is now Brazil. It effectively divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the Portuguese Empire and the Crown of Castile, along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands.

Question 4

The most catastrophic component of the Columbian Exchange was ________.

Accepted Answer

Smallpox was the most catastrophic component of the Columbian Exchange because it led to the deaths of millions of indigenous people in the Americas who had no immunity to the disease.

Question 5

In sailing west on the Atlantic, Christopher Columbus was hoping to find ________.

Accepted Answer

Columbus's primary goal in sailing west was to find a westward route to Asia, aiming to establish a faster and more direct trade route for spices and other goods.

Question 6

Two scientific fields that witnessed the most dramatic changes during the early modern period were ________ and ________.

Accepted Answer

Astronomy and physics experienced significant transformations during the early modern period, notably with the Copernican revolution in astronomy and the development of classical mechanics in physics.

Question 7

According to Greek medical authorities, good health was dependent on ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Greek medical authorities, particularly those influenced by the theories of Hippocrates and later Galen, good health was thought to depend on the balance of the four bodily humours: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. This belief was central to the medical practices and theories of the time.

Question 8

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most brilliant minds of the early modern era. His supreme achievement was ________.

Accepted Answer

Newton's supreme achievement was the synthesis of a system that explained motion, known as Newtonian mechanics, which included his laws of motion and universal gravitation, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the physical world.

Question 9

Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model of the universe because ________.

Accepted Answer

Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model, where the Sun is at the center of the universe, because it offered a simpler mathematical explanation for the observed motions of celestial bodies, compared to the geocentric model where Earth was considered the center.

Question 10

________ was the founder of modern anatomy and one of the first individuals to question the medical wisdom of ancient authorities.

Accepted Answer

Andreas Vesalius is recognized as the founder of modern anatomy. He challenged the prevailing medical theories of his time, which were largely based on the works of Galen, by conducting detailed dissections and insisting on the importance of direct observation. His seminal work, "De humani corporis fabrica" (On the Fabric of the Human Body), published in 1543, corrected many anatomical errors and established anatomy as a modern science.

Question 11

Since Europeans had no commodities that Asians wanted, Europeans had to buy Asian luxury goods with gold and silver.

Accepted Answer

During the early periods of trade between Europe and Asia, Europeans had few goods that were in demand in Asia, leading them to use gold and silver to purchase Asian luxury goods like spices, silk, and porcelain.

Question 12

Although technological developments were important, the early Atlantic voyages were aided more by the steady accumulation of practical knowledge that sailors accumulated than by technological innovation.

Accepted Answer

The early Atlantic voyages relied heavily on the practical experience and navigational skills of sailors, such as understanding wind patterns and ocean currents, which were crucial for successful long-distance sea travel.

Question 13

The colonization of the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, and the Cape Verde Islands helped prepare the Portuguese and Castilian explorers for further overseas expansion.

Accepted Answer

The colonization of these islands provided the Portuguese and Castilian explorers with valuable experience in navigation, maritime technology, and colonial administration, which were crucial for their later expeditions to Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Question 14

By the time of his third voyage in 1502, Columbus acknowledged that he had not reached Asia.

Accepted Answer

The answer of By the time of his third voyage...

Question 15

With some exceptions, Portugal's overseas possessions were part of a "trading-post empire."

Accepted Answer

Portugal established a network of coastal trading posts and forts in Africa, Asia, and South America, focusing on controlling trade routes rather than large territorial empires.

Question 16

During the seventeenth century, the English East India Company successfully challenged the Dutch East India Company (the VOC) and became the dominant European player in Asian trade.

Accepted Answer

During the seventeenth century, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the dominant European power in Asian trade, while the English East India Company gained prominence later.

Question 17

Permanent European settlements in Newfoundland and New France were necessary for the success of the fisheries and the fur trade.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Permanent European settlements in Newfoundland and New...

Question 18

European expansion into the New World was driven by large-scale plans of colonization and settlement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of European expansion into the New World was...

Question 19

Missionary activity played a significant role in Catholic voyages and exploration, but not in Protestant voyages and exploration.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Missionary activity played a significant role in...

Question 20

Within the Columbian Exchange, the turkey was the most notable introduction from the New World to the Old World.

Accepted Answer

The turkey is one of the most notable introductions from the New World (Americas) to the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa) during the Columbian Exchange due to its impact on agriculture and cuisine in various cultures.

Quiz 5: Discovering New Worlds

The two primary motivations behind European voyages of exploration were and .